Oil workers threaten strike over sack

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff of Nigeria (PENGASSEN) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) yesterday threatened to mobilise their staff for an industrial action over mass disengagement of workers in the downstream petroleum sector.

The unions while making a presentation during stakeholders meeting with Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu expressed concern over poor monitoring and enforcement by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) of privitisation agreement with core investors. Presidents of the unions, comrade Babatunde Ogun and Igwe Achese of PENGASSEN and NUPENG told the minister that despite the sufficient increase in products demand that has opened doors for unlimited operators in downstream petroleum sector, there have been sharp practices.

They lamented that the response has massive job losses and recourse to engagement of casual workers. According to the union, MRS, AP and host of other oil majors have been flouting the Nigeria Labour Law by casualising staff.

They urged Wogu to urgently order for the sensitisation of companies and administrators of the free trade zone on labour legislations. Besides, the oil workers urged the Federal government to review the basis of all concessions and waivers to the downstream Petroleum Sector players for the non-complementary action of disguising the delay of full deregulation and right pricing/full cost recovery as basis for irrational job cut.

Their words: "Both Unions maintain that it is imperative to share the content of the PIB draft for accelerated passage particularly as regards labour related issues to prevent possible crisis that may precipitate from non-engagement before passage. "As may be recalled, PENGASSEN shelved the industrial actions that became compelling to protect the lives of their members over the increasing spate of abductions and general insecurity that was reported to government at all levels."